Catholic Answers Live

How Do You Defend Papal Primacy Using Scripture? And More What biblical evidence supports the Pope’s authority and the early Church’s foundation in Rome? Joe Heschmeyer explores this question and more from the audience at SEEK 2025, including Sheol’s transformation after Christ, infant baptism, and the Real Presence in Anglican and Orthodox churches. Questions Covered: 05:46 – What did it actually mean to go to Sheol and how did that change with Christ? 07:42 – How do I defend papal primacy using scripture? How do we defend how the early Church was based out of Rome? 17:08 – I’m Protestant and struggle with infant baptism. How can A child be saved if they have no belief? 23:44 – Hypothetical from an atheist? If I tell my wife: love me or i will set you on fire?” Does she have a choice, and do I actually love my wife? 29:29 – What’s wrong with the following argument: Protestants are more catholic than Catholics because they have fewer factors that need to unify them? 32:30 – How does one discern who has the fullness of the faith between Catholics and Orthodox? 37:50 – Is it ok to refer to Scripture as Jesus since he is he is the word of God? 41:30 – How do we encounter the world, take criticism, and spread the gospel without being obnoxious? 42:12 – If Mary is the Mother of God and she is not the source of his divinity, why does she need to be sinless? 51:13 – Do the Anglican Church and Orthodox have the Real presence? Am I supposed to bow if they do?

Join Catholic Answers Live as Cy Kellett interviews Fr. David Michael Moses on reaching young people through social media and evangelization in today’s digital age!

Tradition says Jesus was 33 when He died, but did early Church Fathers like St. Irenaeus suggest otherwise? Tim Staples explores this question and more, including Mary’s virginity, swearing as a sin, and historical accounts of Jesus’ miracles. Questions Covered:  08:39 – Can you explain Jesus’ age when he died? St. Irenaeus seems to say Jesus died around the age of 50? 17:08 – Is there a list of spiritual faculties? 29:45 – Did Jesus know Mary was a virgin? Did he introduce her to people as “my virgin mother”? 42:28 – If I swear or use vulgar language, is that a mortal sin? 46:26 – Since Josephus was Jewish, did he include Jesus’ raising of the dead in his histories? 51:09 – Should I house my sister who lives with her female partner if she loses her job?

Sharing and defending Catholicism can be overwhelming—how can we do it with confidence and peace? Tim Staples offers practical advice and answers more on the Wailing Wall prophecy, Eucharistic Adoration, and the role of the Trinity in Baptism. Questions Covered:  08:15 – Why is a Wailing Wall leftover from the temple (Mt 24, there will not be a stone leftover)? 19:31 – What is Joseph referring to in Gen 50:19? 23:58 – How can we defend the faith and not be anxious? 42:00 – How do you explain Adoration to a Protestant? 50:55 – Do we have to believe in the Trinity for the Baptismal regeneration to occur?

What’s the difference between change and development in Catholic teaching? Karlo Broussard explains how the Church maintains continuity and answers more on First Confession, receiving Communion, and the first miracle of creation. Want more free exclusive content? JOIN THE CA LIVE CLUB NEWSLETTER  Questions Covered:  03:08 – What are we supposed to confess at First Confession?  05:30 – What is the standard to know if Catholic Doctrine has changed versus developed?  14:51 – Why can’t I receive Communion unless I’m in a state of grace?  32:17 – Why is it okay for Catholics to only receive the bread versus both species?  37:12 – Could the Creation of Eve be considered the first miracle?  43:19 – Why do we cling to certain Biblical teachings and stray from others? 

Why do sins have consequences even after the forgiveness of sins? Karlo Broussard breaks down the concept of temporal punishment and provides more answers on OCIA preparation, early Christian persecution, and proving the Resurrection to skeptics. Want more free exclusive content? JOIN THE CA LIVE CLUB NEWSLETTER  Questions Covered:  06:31 – I find more people coming to OCIA with no knowledge of Jesus Christ? How would you approach this? 22:08 – How do I explain to others the temporal punishment for sin? My example was drinking and the effects on your liver. 31:02 – Can you tell me about early Christian persecutions before its legalization? 35:51 – Based on 2 Tim 3:8, would it be appropriate that as Catholics we believe in an oral tradition exclusively from the Jewish tradition? 41:05 – In relation to my personal experience, how should I honor my father and mother? 47:57 – If you were to talk to an atheist, what evidence would you provide to prove the Resurrection? How would we explain other religions getting prayers answered or getting some private revelation?

Did the Declaration of Independence reference the Biblical Creator, or was it a more general idea of God? In this episode, we discuss The Church Against the State with Dr. Andrew Willard Jones, exploring the historical tension between secular and religious authority. Questions Covered:  37:48 – What do you think about the reference to a Biblical creator in the Declaration of Independence? 

What does the Church say about evolution? Dr. Stacy Trasancos explores the compatibility of Darwin’s theory with Catholic teaching and answers more on faith in science, IVF, and ethical fertility treatments. Questions Covered:  13:32 – Do you support the theory of evolution as proposed by Charles Darwin?  17:11 – How has faith related to your work in science? Can you talk about your conversion? How do you talk couples away from IVF?  24:00 – Do you think the acceptance of IVF by Catholics is due to the lack of guidance we have?  28:49 – What alternative treatments do Catholics have for infertility?  35:00 – How do you reconcile survival of the fittest theory with Jesus’ teaching on taking care of the poor and the weak?  38:20 – Because we have probably consumed the atoms that Jesus once consumed, does that make humanity second class relics?  45:25 – How can we be assured of when is a good time to donate organs?  50:29 – Why are we not considering fathers in these conversations about IVF?  51:33 – How can we see things in nature and see how it reflects God? 

If God is omniscient, how can He “forget” sins forgiven in Confession? Jimmy Akin explains this theological mystery and answers more questions on Genesis, Catholic complexity, and divine judgment. Questions Covered:  01:02 – How does the Jubilee Year and forgiveness apply to my divorce and financial situation?  07:39 – How can Catholics believe Genesis is an allegory and a genealogy at the same time?  16:46 – How can I better defend against the claim “Catholicism is too complex”?  21:01 – The Vatican suppressed the Miles Christi order recently. What does that mean for the order and the faithful associated with them?  23:57 – Could pursuit of knowledge of the faith ever be an idol?  29:07 – What is the difference between the particular judgment and general judgment?  33:25 – How can God forget sins forgiven in Confession if He is All-Knowing?  36:01 – I’m cradle Orthodox; what is the best, concise argument against Eastern Orthodoxy? Why should I become Catholic?  46:40 – I’m in OCIA, my spouse is attending a Protestant Church. Am I allowed to continue attending Protestant services with him?  47:59 – I heard that God allows us to go to Hell because we would not be able to stand the beatific vision if we had mortal sin on our soul. Is this true?  51:14 – How did the Lord atone for our sins? 

How do substance and accidents help us understand the Eucharist? Jimmy Akin unpacks Aristotle’s influence on Catholic theology and answers more questions on NFP, venial sin, and returning to the faith. Questions Covered:  05:09 – If someone venially sins in a category that is grave by nature, has one committed a grave offense that he’s only venially culpable for? If so, does one have a similar responsibility to avoid such sins like mortal sins?  08:16 – What is the meaning of Genesis 49:14-15?  13:43 – What is considered a grave reason to use NFP to avoid pregnancy? Would it be a sin to avoid pregnancy for a less than grave reason?  15:10 – Was Yahweh tempted in the desert when Jesus was tempted in the desert?  18:32 – Does the Prime Directive in Star Trek go against Catholic theology?  23:27 – Having been baptized in a different faith, I’m getting ready for my First Reconciliation; could I bring in a list of my sins, or should I confess what’s on my heart?  29:40 – Can you help me understand how recent immigration changes will affect priests from other countries?    34:34 – Is there a good book a Lapsed Catholic could read to relearn all the traditions? Should I go back to confession?  43:23 – I’m an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister. Can non-Catholics Christians receive ashes on Ash Wednesday?  45:16 – How does Aristotle’s distinction between substance and accidents help explain the concept of transubstantiation?  48:13 – Why is there a response to “The Mystery of the Faith/Mysterium fidei” that doesn’t mention the Resurrection?  51:48 – The Catechism says temporal punishment doesn’t remain after Confession, but my Catechist says otherwise. Who is right?